Why is it so hard to find locally grown flowers?

Hi everyone, this is Laura writing. I’m an amateur gardener, nature lover, mum of two, and also Hati’s virtual assistant. I help out with the behind the scenes of The Dahlia Wood - from social media content and newsletter writing, to web and graphic design, research and purchasing. Whatever Hati doesn't have time for, or needs a bit of extra input with, I’m here for. I love being involved in TDW - working for a small business that reflects the things I value is a privilege and a joy. And as anyone bringing up small children knows, finding work that offers part-time hours doing something meaningful is like gold dust! So thank you Hati. On with the blog!

The hunt for seasonal flowers

Last month, like many of us, I was looking for beautiful flowers for Mother’s Day. I LOVE flowers, and buying locally grown is important to me, but being based in Gloucestershire I’m sadly not local to TDW. Instead, I went to the Flowers From The Farm (FfTF) website to find my nearest grower. In theory, this should work perfectly - you can specify what you’re looking for, and it brings up a list of growers who can help. When I searched for gift bouquets it looked promising - there were a few different options not far from me. My nearest grower didn’t have a website, so I messaged her on social media. Her last post was from a couple of years back, which didn’t seem promising, and she didn’t reply to my message. On to the next! This one was actively advertising Mother’s Day bouquets, and sold them at a local farm shop, hurray! I was just about to pop down to pick some up when I saw a photo of the bouquets on Facebook. They included roses, chrysanths, gypsophila, and other beautiful, but definitely not in season, flowers. These cannot be grown in the UK in March and must have been imported from overseas. This was not what I was looking for - I could go to any old high street florist, or a supermarket, and get this kind of bouquet. I was looking for something better - flowers with scent, character, and a connection to my locality and the seasons. 

Exceptions to the rule

I completely understand that ordering in additional flowers can be necessary, especially for big events like Mother’s Day which fall at the very start of the season, but there are many British grown options to explore in the Spring before ordering in from abroad. Smith & Munson sell fabulous tulips, Clowance offer a variety of Cornish grown flowers and foliage, and other local growers might have a surplus too. 

For growers and florists catering for events, there may be pressure to provide specific varieties which are unavailable locally. In this case, if suggesting alternative, seasonal flowers doesn’t wash, then it is up to the grower whether they choose to include imported flowers to retain the business. I think the key point is transparency, whether it’s event floristry or gift bouquets - if imported blooms are used, this should be clearly communicated, otherwise the label of ‘British grower’ is misleading.

This needs to be easy

Back to my search - long story short, the next two growers on the list again had no websites and broken links so I gave up. This needs to be EASY. If we want local people to support local growers then they need to be able to quickly find what they’re looking for. Customers need to have confidence that the growers we find are currently in business, selling locally grown flowers, ideally with a website or an active social media account that showcases what they do. If we want our wonderful fresh flower industry to flourish (which we do, for so many reasons - supporting local economies, wildlife, environmentally sustainable growing practices, and enjoying the sheer gorgeousness and scent of British blooms) then customers need more -  transparency, reliability, assurance. Without that, I think the convenience of the supermarket bunch may continue to win.

What next?

I think it would be really beneficial for FFtF to set minimum standards for growers, and make sure these are maintained, so it’s quick and easy for customers to find what they’re looking for. Using the label ‘grower’ sets the expectation that the flowers sold are locally grown. If this isn’t the case, the provenance of the flowers should be made clear, so the customer can make an informed decision about what to buy.

Finally, if you’re lucky enough to live near Llandeilo, congratulations! You’ve won the fresh flower postcode lottery! 😂😍💐 As for me? I did not get any Mother’s Day flowers. Maybe next year?! 🤞🏻

Please note: all opinions are my own.